El Pasoans React To Bin Laden’s Death

The news of Osama Bin Laden’s death was met by El Pasoans with skepticism as well as worry that other terrorists would continue to carry out attacks in his name.

Kimber McCarden, wife of a Fort Bliss soldier, said she thought it was good and bad news that Bin Laden is dead.

“It’s awesome if it’s really him but I also see terrorist threats continuing from his followers,” McCarden said. “I wish I could be optimistic that it’s all over but I don’t it expect it to be over. I am hoping this means that my husband will not have to deploy again. I’m hoping for the best.”

Congressman Silvestre Reyes shared a similar kind of cautious optimism regarding the news. He was the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee from 2006 to 2010. He spoke with ABC-7 about the impact news of Bin Laden’s death has had on the borderland, considering all the military families who live here.

“Like everyone else, I’m sure Fort Bliss soldiers and their families are glad this day is here and the symbol for terrorism around the world has been killed,” said Reyes. “The overriding message is no matter where (the terrorists) are we’ve got the resources to go after them.”

El Paso resident Nicholas Javier, on the other hand, was skeptical about the announcement of Bin Laden’s death.

“I think there’s some tactic behind it,” he said. “He might have been dead and they just found it convenient or he (the president) found it convenient to release it now.”

Javier said he thinks other people are like him and not emotionally involved in the announcement because so much time has passed since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

El Paso resident Alex Perez said he was not shocked by the announcement. He thinks people are like him and won’t be affected by the news because 9/11 happened so long ago and people may have forgotten about it.

“I guess people can get some closure,” Perez said. “It doesn’t affect me much in my life at this moment — I’m more in my personal life,” Perez added.